Ozempic overview
Brand name for semaglutide, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Same active ingredient as Wegovy and Rybelsus.
Ozempic at a glance
Manufacturer
Novo Nordisk
FDA status
FDA-approved
Questions readers ask
Is Ozempic the same drug as Wegovy and Rybelsus?
All three share the same active ingredient, semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk. This page lists Ozempic as FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes mellitus; the brands differ in approved use and form, so which one a clinician prescribes depends on your diagnosis.
Is compounded semaglutide a copy of Ozempic?
No. Compounded semaglutide is a different, unapproved preparation, and FDA has warned sellers that call it the same. FDA’s April 1, 2026 policy also concerns semaglutide plus B12 products that may be essentially copies, and FDA has warned against the salt forms semaglutide sodium and semaglutide acetate.
What weight loss has Ozempic’s active ingredient shown in trials?
The weight-management data come from semaglutide 2.4 mg, the Wegovy dose: in STEP 1, adults lost a mean 14.9% of body weight at 68 weeks (treatment-policy estimand). Ozempic itself is approved for type 2 diabetes, not chronic weight management.
What does semaglutide cost without insurance?
Read October 14, 2026: Wegovy pen $349 a month via NovoCare (new patients $199 for the first two fills through Dec 31, 2026) and Wegovy pill $149, $199 or $299 a month by dose. Compounded semaglutide at NexLife is $119 a month on a 12-month plan charged monthly, but is not FDA-approved.
Primary sources
- FDA: Concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss (current as of October 1, 2026)
- FDA: Policies for compounders as GLP-1 supply stabilizes (updated April 1, 2026)
- FDA: Compounding and the FDA — questions and answers
- FDA: Registered outsourcing facilities (503B)
- Wilding JPH et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med 2021
- Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk